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Tea-Party And Republicans' Victory Means Back To 1700

Hate crimes against Latinos, Muslims and those â€œotherâ€ people are on the rise. Even â€œprogressiveâ€ Whites canâ€™t seem to speak out strongly against bigotry. Progressives have castigated President Obama for "not doing enough," while they remain silent on the racist invectives being fired at him. Will we let nostalgic bigots reverse the inroads weâ€™ve achieved with the election of President Obama?

[Speaking Truth To Power]

In two weeks, the American electorate will vote in one of the most politically charged periods in U.S. history.

Given all the vile vitriol of the past two years, the question is: how much is this election colored by prejudice?What proportion of the voting will be over the Obama Administration's policies or legitimate issues?

Many people claim this election is a "referendum" on President Obama’s policies. It's more like it's about pigmentation politics.

Ever since Barack Obama defied the odds, becoming America’s first African-American president, prejudice has been fermenting across the nation, echoed in the cries of “taking the country back.”

Militia members armed themselves to the teeth. "I hope he fails," top rabble-rouser Rush Limbaugh declared even before Obama was sworn in. President Obama inherited daunting problems: two wars, an imploding economy, tax-breaks for the rich, and income inequality underpinned by greed.

Yet, his biggest stumbling block, on Capitol Hill, is calculated Republican obstruction—encouraged by their base’s racism.

The last few months, political forecasters have told us Republicans are poised to win the House and, possibly, the Senate. Historically, the incumbent party loses seats and there’s no doubt some voters are unhappy with the amount of “change” President Obama and Democrats have delivered. And now, a significant number of Whites, embodied and emboldened by the Tea Party crackpots, are about to vote for White supremacy.

Some people claim the Tea Party is a manifestation of a “populist” movement. Bull; bull; bull. Genuine populism would be defending all Americans against the excesses of the economic elites.

Instead, these prejudicial phonies are puppets for wealthy Americans like the multi-billionaire Koch brothers who finance the Tea Party. Worst of all, this party has positioned several rednecks and wing-nuts closer to the levers of power. We should shudder that Rand Paul, Sharron Angle, Trent Franks, Rich Iott and Carl Paladino are so close to elected office.

In New York, Paladino’s candidacy, thankfully, has imploded in recent weeks, after his homophobic comments and threats against a New York Post reporter. This xenophobe sent around pictures depicting President Obama and the First Lady as pimp and prostitute respectively. Yet, Palidino never had to answer for that, or his other race-baiting missives.

It’s extremely scary that this idiot was so close to becoming governor. His racist and sexist behavior wasn’t enough to scare away Republican New Yorkers who elected him over Rick Lazio, who was certainly much more sober.

Another Tea Party favorite is the fascist-leaning congressional candidate Rich Iott from Ohio. Iott has a penchant for Nazism, and likes to dress-up in Nazi regalia. Ponder his statement: “I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that here was a relatively small country that from a strictly military point of view accomplished great things.” He was referring to Nazi Germany. Iott ignores the six million Jews butchered by his heroes.

Then there’s congressional candidate Trent Franks from Arizona. Franks stated President Obama “has no place in any station of government and we need to realize that he is an enemy of humanity.” He also said this about slavery: “Far more of the African-American community is being devastated by the policies of today, than were devastated by the policies of slavery.”

Arizona is one of the most backward states regarding minority matters as exemplified by the draconian SB1070 immigration law. Arizona was one of the last states to recognize the Martin Luther King holiday.

Senate candidate Sharron Angle, also of Arizona, claimed America might have to use “Second Amendment remedies” against its “tyrannical” government. White militias—like the Oath Keepers, who have backgrounds in law enforcement—would definitely agree with this endorsement of taking up arms against a government with an African-American president.

Then there’s Senate candidate Dr. Rand Paul, son of libertarian Ron Paul. During an infamous interview, with Rachel Maddow, Paul said “I do defend and believe that the government should not be involved with institutional racism or discrimination or segregation in schools, busing, all those things.” He also said there’s “nothing right now to prevent re-segregating.” Paul argues private businesses have the right to discriminate. The question he should answer is: aren’t most privately-owned businesses open to the general public, thereby, negating his ridiculous hairsplitting?

If the American government wasn’t forced to protect the rights, and lives, of African-Americans how many more would’ve been massacred by racists? That apparently is of no consequence to Dr. Paul.

Unfortunately, this column space can’t list all the other Tea Party and Republican loonies running for office. The long list of their moronic ideas include: privatizing Social Security, abolishing public schools and ending the minimum wage. Bigotry and idiocy is clearly on the ballot this November.

The truth is white America is fearful of the changing demographics; there's more color on the horizon.

That’s why hate crimes against Latinos, Muslims and those “other” people are on the rise. Even “progressive” Whites can’t seem to speak out strongly against bigotry. Progressives have castigated President Obama for "not doing enough," while they remain silent on the racist invectives being fired at him.

Moreover, they fail to realize the limitations of the party system, to create profound change; especially when bigotted opposition is financed by multi-billionaires. Come November 2, will we let nostalgic bigots reverse the inroads we’ve achieved with the election of President Obama?